The relative decline in the rank of New Orleans is an indication of being left behind. For more than a century and a half New Orleans has been losing prominence relative to other cities. Contrary to popular belief the relative decline began well before the Civil War. Where once we competed economically and socially with New York, Boston and Philadelphia, we now compete with much smaller and less prominent but more affluent cities.

And it's simple to understand after you figure out that such a high percentage of the New Orleans citizenry who could make a difference like it this way. "You want growth and progress? Go to Atlanta or Houston. We like New Orleans because it's different from those places." So do I, just for the record. In many aspects my home town is a joy to live in. In many other aspects, however...well, let's just say that there are a lot of reasons that population grows in some places and falls in others, and taken all together they translate into the general desirabily of a location as a place to live.

Of course, because we're so convinced that ANY change whatsoever would ruin the "ambiance" that we love about NOLA, we can add to that earlier list Miami, Charlotte, Austin, Nashville, San Antonio, Birmingham, Memphis, Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, Virginia Beach, Louisville, Richmond, Raleigh-Durham...